Dodd-Frank revisited

A headline in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal had me wondering whether their proofreader had missed an extra comma:

Wall Street, Banks Press to Shape Dodd-Frank Rules

The article reports recently disclosed figures on financial industry lobbying. Since the Dodd-Frank law left so much for regulators to spell out, the numbers are not surprising:

...

The disclosures show that 26 of the financial firms and trade  associations that spent the most in 2010 collectively spent $27 million  in the three months ending March 31, a 2.7% increase from the $26.3  million spent in the comparable period in 2010.

The industry’s first-quarter lobbying  tally is its second-highest ever, according to an analysis of data  provided by the Center for Responsive Politics.   ...